Seat-supporting device.



No. 888,799. PATENTED MAY26, 1908.

' w. s. GREY.

SEAT SUPPORTING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 20. 1907.

WILLIAM S. GREY, OF DES MOINES, IOWA.

SEAT-SUPPORTING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 2c, 1908.

Application filed June 20, 1907. Serial No. 379,886.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM S. GREY, a citizen of the United States,residing at Des Moines, in the county of Polk and State of Iowa,-haveinvented a certain new and useful Seat-Supporting Device, of which thefollowing is a specification.

My invention relates to the class of seats usually employed in circuses,'rand stands, etc., which may be quickly and easily taken aplart forpurposes of transportation, and W ich may be quickly and easlly set upwhen desired. In seats of this kind, it is desirable to have a main bankof seats having an approximate seating capacity which it is desired touse under normal conditions, and in some instances it is desirable toprovide an extra bank of seats, which may be quickly and easily placedin position in front of the main bank, to provide an additional numberof seats, in cases where a greatly increased seating capacity isdesired.

My object is to provide an improved seat supporting device, of sim le,durable and inexpensive construction, y means of which an auxiliary bankof seats may be quickly and easily attached to the main bank, withoutneed for driving stakes, or erecting supports other than the stringersthemselves that support the seats proper.

My invention consists in the construction, arrangement and combinationof the various parts of the device, whereby the objects contemplated areattained, as hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in my claims,and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 shows aside elevation of a main bank of seats, and an auxiliary bank of seatsattached thereto, and embodying my invention. Fig. 2 shows a rearelevation of one of the main and auxiliary stringers, with portions ofseats thereon, and a trestle for suporting the upper end of the mainstringer. Fig. 3 shows an enlarged detail perspective view of a portionof a main stringer, and a portion of an auxiliary stringer connected bymeans of my improved connecting device. Fig. 4 shows a similar view withthe auxiliary stringer slightly detached from the main stringer, andillustrating a modified form of my invention. Fig. 5 shows an invertedlan view of the end of the auxiliary stringer o the form shown in Fig.4, and Fig. 6 shows a View like Fig. 3, illustrating anothermodification.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, I

' have used the reference numeral 10 to indinary kind, and forsupporting the front end of the stringer, I drive a post or stake 14into the ground, to be engaged by the end of the stringer. Near thelower end of the stringer, is a bracket for forming a seat support,which bracket is made of a single piece of iron rod, having its bodyportion 15 arranged at the same angle as the tops of the brackets 11,and having its upper end inclined downwardly, and inserted in thestringer at 16, and its lower end inclined downwardly at 17, andinserted in the stringer. This bracket is the same in all of themodified forms of my invention.

The auxiliary seat su port comprises a stringer 18, designed to ave itsupper end supported upon the lower portion of the stringer 10, and to beheld against lateral movement relative to the stringer 10, by means ofthe bracket 15. On top of the stringer 18 is a series of wooden brackets19, to support the seat boards 20, these brackets being so arranged thatwhen the stringers 18 are in the osition shown in Fig. 1, the seatboards wilFbe substantially horizontal.

In the preferred form of my invention as illustrated in Figs. 1, 4 and5, I provide for holding the stringers 18 against downward movementrelative to the stringer 10 as fol lows: Mounted on the stringer 10,adjacent to the bracket 15 is a plate 21, having an opening through itto receive a pin 22, having a tapered or rounded head 23, projectmgabove the plate. The body of the pin is inserted in an opening in thestringer 10. The adjacent end of the stringer 18 is provided on itsunder surface with a plate 24, having a longitudinal slot 25 therein,designed to receive the upper end of the pin 23. In order to preventlateral movement of the stringer 18 relative to the stringer 10, I formin the upper end of the stringer 18, a slot 26, and in order tostrpngthen and reinforce the parts, I place a metal plate 27 on top ofthe stringer 18, provided with wings 28, to overla the sides of thestringer, and provided with the slot 29 in its top, to stand in linewith the slot 26. This plate is secured by bolts or screws to thestringer 18. In connectim the parts together, I first place the end ofthe stringer 18 with the upright portion 17 of the bracket 15 resting inthe slots 26 and 29. In order to do this, the forward end of thestringer 18 must be elevated to a substantially horizontal position,then the forward end of the stringer is lowered so that the head 23 ofthe pin 22 will enter the slot 25, and the forward end of the stringermay then be lowered to rest u on the ground. By this means, all lateramovement of the stringer 18 is revented, and all longitudinal movement 0the stringer 18 is prevented by the pin 22 in the slot 25, and it is notnecessary to provide any stakes, posts or other fastening devices forthe forward ends of the stringer 18.

In the modified form shown in Fig. 3, I have substituted for the pin andslot structure described, a device consisting of a plate 30, mounted ontop of the stringer 10, and having a rounded shoulder 31 at its centralportion, extending across the top of the stringer 10, and on the undersurface of the stringer 18 I have placed a plate 32 having its u per endcurved .to form a cylinder 33, whic is designed to rest in the roundedshoulder 31, and thus prevent the downward movement of the stringer 18relative to the stringer 10.

In the modified form shown in Fig. 6, I

I have provided a plate 34 in the upper end of the stringer 18, whichlate is formed with a hook 35 having a slot t erein desi ned to receivethe upright portion 17 of t e bracket 15, said slot being so arranged asto prevent lateral movement of the stringer 18 on the stringer 10, theouter end of the hook being in engagement with the upright portion 17 insuch manner as toprevent ownward movement of the strirfger 18 relativeto the stringer 10.

In practical use, I first set up a number of the mam stringers 10 asshown in Figs. 1 and 2, and place thereon the seat boards 12. In thisway a complete bank of seats is formed which may be used without theauxiliary bank of seats, if desired. In the event that the main bank ofseats roves insufficient, and it is desirable to quic 1y add additionalseats, I then place the stringers 18 on the brackets of the mainstringer 10 in the man- 'ner before described. The forward ends of thestringers 19 are eld against longitudinal movement by the fasteningdevices at the rear ends thereof so that additional stakes or posts areunnecessary, then the seat boards 20 are placed upon the brackets of theauxiliary stringers, and an additional bank of seats is thus readily andquickly provided Having thus described In invention what I claim anddesire to secure y Letters l atent of the United States, therefor, is-

1. In a device of the class described, the combination of a mainstringer, a seat board supporting bracket thereon, com rising a metalrod with its ends secured to t e top of the main stringer, and its bodyportion designed to receive a seat supporting board, an auxiliarystringer designed to rest u on the top of the main stringer, and formerwith a slot in its end to receive the forward end of said bracketforpreventing lateral movement,

and means for preventing the auxiliary stringer from. moving downwardlyon the main stringer.

2. In a device of the class described, the combination of a mainstringer, a seat board supporting bracket thereon, com rising a metalrod with its ends inserted in t e top of the main stringer, and its bodyportion designed to receive a seat supporting board, an auxiliarvstringer designe to rest u on the top of t e main stringer, and formewith a slot in its end to receive the forward end of said bracket, andmeans for preventing the auxiliary stringer from moving downwardly onthe main stringer, said means comprisin a pin fixed to the mainstringer, and a slotte( plate to receive said pin, fixed to theauxiliary stringer.

3. In a device of the class described, the combination of a mainstringer, a seat supporting bracket thereon comprising a rod with itsends inserted in the top of the main stringer, and its body portion shaed to support a seat board, a plate fixed to tile main strin er,adjacent to said bracket, a pin passed t rough said plate and insertedin the stringer, and having a ointed end projecting above said plate,and an auxiliary stringer having a slotted plate fixed to its undersurface to receive said pin, and also having a metal plate on its topwith wings overlapping its sides, said top plate and the upper end ofthe stringer being formed with a slot to receive the lower uprightportion of said bracket.

\ WILLIAM S. GREY. Witnesses:

RALPH ORwIe, MARY E. BENNETT.

